before had he fought with such vehemence.
When Griffin opened his eyes, Ian helped him sit up. "There are things Scotia can teach you about fighting if you would give her a chance."
Griffin batted his dark hair out of his eyes, revealing a gaze that reflected both humiliation and frustration. "Leave me alone. That woman has nothing to teach me." The lack of violence in his expression lessened Ian's own anger. His brother might be hotheaded, but at least he was not foolhardy. Perhaps now Griffin would go home and resume his obligations to the clan.
Scotia moved to Griffin's side and handed him his sword. Her face was blank, devoid of anger or the disappointment Ian had expected to see. "You are right. I do not have anything to teach you if you cannot learn to channel your anger. You have skill, Griffin, if you would only learn to use it as an asset and not turn it as a weapon against yourself." A slight catch in her voice told Ian she was not as impervious to Griffin's behavior as she appeared.
On unsteady legs, Griffin stood. "My anger has served me well in the past."
"It did not help save Malcolm," Ian interrupted, unable to still his irritation. Griffin froze, but Ian continued. "I, like you, did not truly believe in Scotia's ability to teach me when I arrived, but I soon learned I was wrong. She is the best warrior I have ever seen."
From the corner of his eyes Ian glanced at Scotia. Her expression was that of faint surprise, as though she had not expected him to pay her the compliment. That he had done something she had not expected pleased him.
A blaze of defiance burned in Griffin's eyes. "Less than a week in her presence and she has tamed you into a kitten. How shameful you are to your Highland heritage, brother. That is, if you are a Highlander at all."
Ian held a flare of anger in check. "You dare to challenge my heritage when you have abandoned your own?"
"What?" A dark scowl shadowed Griffin's features.
"You left our clan alone, exposed to attack, to follow me here. Make that dereliction of your duty worthwhile. Open yourself to what Scotia can teach you."
Ian stole a glance at Scotia, where she stood behind Griffin. Her expression remained shuttered. He could only assume it was her anger she hid.
Scotia sheathed her weapon. "It is your choice to train or not, Griffin. I shall never force a person to accept what I freely offer to all my countrymen. If you wish to leave, do so with my blessing. If you chose to stay, it will be on my terms. Until you accept those terms, you are not welcome in this chamber, for it is only a place where I train true warriors." Her face darkened as she moved in front of Griffin. "Now leave so Ian and I may continue his training."
Griffin said nothing, but Ian saw the tightening around his lips, the slight clenching of his hands at his sides. From years of watching and measuring Griffin's reactions, Ian knew his brother was not ready to concede. If anything, Scotia's dismissal would only make him more determined. The question was what it would make him more determined to do—train as he should or see that Scotia was defeated?
"I shall leave this room, but not the castle," Griffin said. "You will not be rid of me that easily."
Nay, nothing had ever been easy where Griffin was concerned. Ian just hoped the hot-tempered fool would come to his senses before he got himself killed.
Silence hovered between them until Griffin left. When they were alone, Scotia crossed the room until she stood before the training cross. "You and I shall continue our training here." Her voice was soft and her actions determined as she climbed between the ropes to the center of the cross.
Ian frowned at her response as he followed her inside. She wanted to pretend nothing had just happened. "I shall talk to Griffin."
"No need," she said without looking up.
"He does have manners sometimes," he said in
When Griffin opened his eyes, Ian helped him sit up. "There are things Scotia can teach you about fighting if you would give her a chance."
Griffin batted his dark hair out of his eyes, revealing a gaze that reflected both humiliation and frustration. "Leave me alone. That woman has nothing to teach me." The lack of violence in his expression lessened Ian's own anger. His brother might be hotheaded, but at least he was not foolhardy. Perhaps now Griffin would go home and resume his obligations to the clan.
Scotia moved to Griffin's side and handed him his sword. Her face was blank, devoid of anger or the disappointment Ian had expected to see. "You are right. I do not have anything to teach you if you cannot learn to channel your anger. You have skill, Griffin, if you would only learn to use it as an asset and not turn it as a weapon against yourself." A slight catch in her voice told Ian she was not as impervious to Griffin's behavior as she appeared.
On unsteady legs, Griffin stood. "My anger has served me well in the past."
"It did not help save Malcolm," Ian interrupted, unable to still his irritation. Griffin froze, but Ian continued. "I, like you, did not truly believe in Scotia's ability to teach me when I arrived, but I soon learned I was wrong. She is the best warrior I have ever seen."
From the corner of his eyes Ian glanced at Scotia. Her expression was that of faint surprise, as though she had not expected him to pay her the compliment. That he had done something she had not expected pleased him.
A blaze of defiance burned in Griffin's eyes. "Less than a week in her presence and she has tamed you into a kitten. How shameful you are to your Highland heritage, brother. That is, if you are a Highlander at all."
Ian held a flare of anger in check. "You dare to challenge my heritage when you have abandoned your own?"
"What?" A dark scowl shadowed Griffin's features.
"You left our clan alone, exposed to attack, to follow me here. Make that dereliction of your duty worthwhile. Open yourself to what Scotia can teach you."
Ian stole a glance at Scotia, where she stood behind Griffin. Her expression remained shuttered. He could only assume it was her anger she hid.
Scotia sheathed her weapon. "It is your choice to train or not, Griffin. I shall never force a person to accept what I freely offer to all my countrymen. If you wish to leave, do so with my blessing. If you chose to stay, it will be on my terms. Until you accept those terms, you are not welcome in this chamber, for it is only a place where I train true warriors." Her face darkened as she moved in front of Griffin. "Now leave so Ian and I may continue his training."
Griffin said nothing, but Ian saw the tightening around his lips, the slight clenching of his hands at his sides. From years of watching and measuring Griffin's reactions, Ian knew his brother was not ready to concede. If anything, Scotia's dismissal would only make him more determined. The question was what it would make him more determined to do—train as he should or see that Scotia was defeated?
"I shall leave this room, but not the castle," Griffin said. "You will not be rid of me that easily."
Nay, nothing had ever been easy where Griffin was concerned. Ian just hoped the hot-tempered fool would come to his senses before he got himself killed.
Silence hovered between them until Griffin left. When they were alone, Scotia crossed the room until she stood before the training cross. "You and I shall continue our training here." Her voice was soft and her actions determined as she climbed between the ropes to the center of the cross.
Ian frowned at her response as he followed her inside. She wanted to pretend nothing had just happened. "I shall talk to Griffin."
"No need," she said without looking up.
"He does have manners sometimes," he said in
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